Lord Bassam of Brighton: (a) The number of prosecutions initiated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) against drivers found to be in breach of drivers' hours regulations while driving in Wales in 2005-06 is 488. VOSA does not record the nationality of drivers prosecuted.
	(b) Available data for 2004 (latest available) and taken from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform show that there were 332 proceedings at magistrates' courts throughout Wales for "failing to observe limits on hours of driving and duty or rest requirements". This is an offence under the Transport Act 1968 s.96(11)(a).
	Data for 2005 will be available later this year. Data for 2006 will not be available until 2008.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In the east of England region, there is one open prison, Hollesley Bay, and another that has an open element, Norwich prison. The total number of absconds from each establishment is set out in the following table. Accurate data on recaptures are not currently available.
	
		
			 Number of absconds at Hollesley Bay and Norwich Prison 
			  Hollesley Bay Norwich Open Element** 
			  Total Absconds Total Absconds 
			 1997-98 13 N/A 
			 1998-99 25 N/A 
			 1999-00 11 N/A 
			 2000-01 24 N/A 
			 2001-02 8 N/A 
			 2002-03 14 N/A 
			 2003-04 36 N/A 
			 2004-05 32 8 
			 2005-06 16 2 
			 2006-07* 18 2 
			 *Current financial year up to and including 31 January 2007. 
			 **The open element became operational in 2004-05.